Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 2017)
96/63 HIKERS RESCUED FROM FIRES SUPPORTERS OF DACA RALLY Idaho leads U.S. in cyberbullying OREGON/2A NATION/9A TECHNOLOGY/6A TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 141st Year, No. 231 One dollar WINNER OF THE 2017 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Hot and hazy holiday Labor Day weekend continues trend from hotter, drier August By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian Staff photo by E.J. Harris Smoke from Pacifi c Northwest wildfi res hangs in a haze Monday over Pendleton. Labor Day was yet another hazy scorcher across much of Eastern Oregon, dragging on what has felt like an endless summer of heat and smoke. High temperatures reached the mid-90s once again Monday in Pendleton and Hermiston, to go with smoky skies from a multitude of wildfi res burning across the Pacifi c Northwest. Historically, the normal high temperature for Sept. 4 is 82 degrees in Pendleton and 83 degrees in Hermiston, according to the National Weather Service. August weather was also hotter and drier than usual at the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton, with temperatures averaging 3.6 degrees above normal and precipitation falling nearly one-third of an inch below the monthly average. High temperatures were especially intense, surpassing 90 degrees on 18 days and 100 degrees on six of those. The hottest day came on Aug. 10, when the mercury hit a record- breaking 103 degrees compared to the normal daily high of 88 degrees. Rainfall was also stingy during the month, with the only measur- able precipitation coming Aug. 13. However, overall precipitation for the water year — which began in October See WEATHER/2A HOW IT WORKS Initiative process puts law in hands of people With enough support, citizens can put rules in front of voters By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Staff photo by E.J. Harris Pendleton freshman Ellen Paulsen uses a walking cane under the tutelage of Sharon Zenger, with her guide dog, Jude, on Friday at Pend- leton High School. Zenger works for the Intermountian Education Service District working with visually impaired students. Learning to see in the dark Woman, guide dog work with IMESD to help visually impaired students By KATHY ANEY East Oregonian As a young woman, Sharon Zenger traded in her driver’s license for a seeing eye dog. Zenger started life with almost normal vision, but as a toddler was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa. Growing up in Pendleton, the girl spent years preparing for blindness, practicing with a white cane and learning to read Braille. When her sight dimmed, she was ready. Zenger, now 37, trains visually impaired children in six Oregon counties as an employee of the InterMountain Education Service District. Tod Zenger chauffeurs his daughter and her guide dog, Jude, from school to school each day. Except for the ever-present Jude, one might not realize the Pendleton woman can’t see. She walks with an air of confi dence, following her German Shepherd’s subtle guidance. She wears glasses and appears to look directly at people who speak to her, though in reality she sees only blur or blackness, depending on the brightness of the environment. Zenger’s easy nonchalance belies her toughness. She got her fi rst guide dog at the Guiding Eyes for the Blind guide dog school in New York City. To graduate the month-long training, students must navigate the Big Apple’s legendary traffi c and multilevel subway system. “I walked out of Grand Central Station and had to fi nd my way to Staff photo by E.J. Harris Pendleton freshman Ellen Paulsen greets Jude, a guide dog for Sharon Zenger, before a lesson Friday at Pendleton High School. More inside IMESD adds facility support to growing list of services 3A Central Park,” Zenger recalls. After reaching her destination, she headed to the subway, found a train to the upper east side, got off at the proper stop and found a pub where she met her classmates and instructors. Getting around in New York City can rattle even sighted people — doing it with impaired vision takes nerves of steel. “I remember thinking I’m glad I don’t live in New York,” Zenger said. She returned to Oregon, where she earned undergraduate degrees in social science and teaching and a master’s degree in education at Port- land State University. She memo- rized the campus and surrounding See ZENGER/10A “When we hired her, we were really excited to have such a highly qualifi ed person who can related to kids in such a unique way. She is a huge gift to the ESD.” — Mark Mulvihill, IMESD Superintendent Few state mechanisms represent government “by the people” as directly as Oregonians’ ability to get citizen-written legislation on the ballot. Few states give citizens so much latitude in writing their own laws, and no other state has ever passed as many initiatives and referendums as Oregon has. But for the casual participant in democracy, the process can still be a little confusing. We answer some commons questions below: What is the difference between a referendum and an initiative? When a citizen or group of citizens gets an item on the ballot, it is classifi ed in two different ways: a referendum or an initiative. A referendum refers to a vote to overturn a specifi c law passed by the legislature, while an initiative is a proposal for a new law. When the legislature sends a law to the ballot, it’s called a referral. How many signatures do you need to get one on the ballot? The chief sponsors of a referendum or initiative must start out with 1,000 “sponsor” signatures before being approved by the Secretary of State’s offi ce to start circulating their petition. Once they’re approved for circulation, the number of signatures needed is based on a percentage of people who cast a vote for governor during the last election. An initiative that changes the Oregon Constitution must have 8 percent (currently 117,578 valid signatures), initiatives that merely change state statutes must have 6 percent (88,184 signatures) and referendums only need 4 percent (58,789 signatures). Who can sign petitions? Only active, registered Oregon voters are allowed to sign referendum and initiative petitions. Signing someone else’s name, signing a petition for the same initia- tive multiple times or signing despite not being a registered voter are all crimes. Signers See BALLOT/10A